Sealing apparatus.



QQQ Q QQQ OQQQQQOQO J. U. THOM- SEALING APPARATUS. ArrLmA'nm; rum) JAN. 16. 1907.

939,453. v Patented Nov.9, 1909.

UNITED srATnsrATENir OFFICE.

JAMES CRAWFORD THOM, OE HELMETTA, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SNUFF COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.'Y. A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEALING ArrrinATUs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

wise exposed connection of a cylindrical vessel and its cover, chiefly for the purposes of hermetically sealing the contents of the vessel.

The invention is embodied in the apparatus hereinafter shown and described; and that which is claimed as new will be set forth in the claims appended to the description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat ing the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus, Fig. 2 aside elevation, and Fig. 3 a transverse section.

In the said drawings is illustrated the best-known embodiment of the invention and all the details thereof. The invention,

however, is not restricted to such embodi-- ment or details except as may be specifically required by the clauses of the claim.

In the said drawing the reference numeral 1 designates a tank which may be provided with means 2, where thegnatureof the sealing-medium is such as to require it, for maintaining the sealing-medium in fit condition for useand in this connection it may be stated that paraflin is recommended and a steam heating pipe for maintaining it in a liquid condition.

The tank 1 is slotted longitudinally and in this slot is disposed a capillary wick 3, in communication with the sealing-medium for supply, and exposed in position for application of the medium. In front of the tank 1 is a runway 4 for the articles to be sealed, which is adjustably' supportedfrom a common frame 5, of suitable conformation to support all of the operative parts. This runway is made adjustable for? the purpose of bringing the article to such position that the line or area to be sealed will be opposite the exposed portion of the wick 3, and this adjustment is secured, in the illustrated example of the invention,'by a slot and pin connection 6 of the runway with theframe 5. Means areprovided to hold the articlesto be sealed against the wick and to rotate the articles in their passage past and in contact with the sealing medium applying so positioned-that the articles to be sealed will be passed in proper relation to the wick 3 for the designed application of the sealingmedium thereto. The belt 7 is caused to travel, in the embodiment of the invention shown, by means of an extension of one of the rollers 8 provided with a gear 8*, driven by a gear 10 impelled from any suitable source of power.

The endless belt is kept taut to properly perform its oflice by means of an adjustable tension roller 11, the adjusting elements be ingshown as slot and pin, and the run of said belt which engages the articles being treated is supported by a bar 9 carried by a bracket from the frame 5. Cooperating with the runway 4, guide rail 9, and endless belt 7 to properly position the article tobe sealed in relation to the wick 3 and to confine the same to insure rotation by the belt 7 is a guide 12 flared at its ends to permit ready entrance and exit to the article to be sealed; and this guide rail way be provided with ball-bearings 13 to reduce friction.

In practice the articles to be sealed are introduced onto the runway 4, by hand or antomatically, the runway being adjusted properly'by the means described or in other suitable way with relation to the wick 3 to apply the sealing medium as designed, and then the endless belt causes the rotation of the articles to be sealed in their passage past the wick, and in so doing, in part at least, serves or assists in their propulsion. In this operation the guide gage 9 and guide 12 take part in the proper posltioning of the article to be sealed in its relation to the sealing-medium-applying wick.

The invention is believed to be most useful in applying a sealing medium to the joint between a vessel and its closure cover; but, 'of course, it is contemplated that the invensealing medium having a slotted wall, a

- frame, a run-Way carried by said frame and located adjacent to and parallel with the slotted Wall of the tank, a sealing medium conveyer located in the slotted Wall of the tank and extending into the path of movement of the articles to be sealed on said run- Way, a gage rail located above and at the side of the run-Way adjacent the tank, a belt supporting bar opposite the gage rail at the other side of the run-Way, and an endless belt traversing and supported by said bar.

2. In a sealing apparatus, a tank for the sealing medium having a slotted Wall, a frame, a run-Way carried by said frame and located adjacent to and parallel with the slotted wall of the tank, a sealing medium conveyer located in the slotted Wall of the tank and extending into the path of movement of the articles to be sealed on said run- Way, a gage rail located above and at the 20 side of the run-Way adjacent the tank, a belt supporting bar opposite the gage rail at the other side of the run-Way, an endless belt traversing and supported by said bar, and a guide over the run-Way to bear against the 25 articles to be sealed in their travel along said run-Way.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 

